1- Do you really have to go there? I believe that people go to Croydon just because they have business there. I believe it is an industrial part of town.
2- HOTEL
I stayed there in May 2005 for two nights.
The hotel has a nice ample lounge with chairs, mainly used as a bar.
Behind this ample lounge sits the breakfast room, also nice. Breakfast as in any other regular hotel, buffet.
The construction is nice, the room I was given, just a standard room was that...just standard. I can remember the bathroom was also big. But you may get a better room. Iīm not a member of HH, I just use my United Mileage Plus miles.
3- SHOPPING CENTER: You are 100 meteres away from a compound with 4-5 eateries, but thatīs it. I travelled to london and you need to take a bus to the train station for 15-20 minutes and then the train to Victoria Station for another 20 minutes. Nothing interesting to see on the bus ride.
I did not enquire about any shopping center around but it seems to be very far from anything nice.
Good luck.
Adios
Diego